Intra-operative quick insulin assay to confirm complete resection of insulinomas guided by selective arterial calcium injection (SACI)

Background and aims Insulinomas are rare endocrine disorders. Pre-operatively, conventional imaging techniques often fail to localise the tumor. In addition, due to the lack of quick insulin assays, intra-operative confirmation of complete resection was impossible until recently. Materials and methods Six patients with biochemical evidence of an insulinoma underwent pre-operative localisation studies and selective arterial calcium injection (SACI). In addition, insulin was measured before surgery and every 10–15 min after resection of the tumor using a quick insulin assay. Results Pre-operative localisation studies identified the tumor correctly as follows: endosonography: three of four, magnetic resonance imaging: two of four and SACI: six of six. Tumors in the head and body were enucleated while those in the tail were resected (n = 2, each). Those three patients, in whom magnetic resonance imaging and/or endosonography could localise the tumors pre-operatively, underwent laparoscopic surgery while the remaining three patients underwent open surgery. Intra-operatively, insulin dropped to normal levels within 20 min in all cases. After a follow-up of 0.8–3 years, all patients remained biochemically cured. Conclusions Pre-operatively, SACI appears to be a very sensitive localisation technique and may be most helpful in guiding the surgeon if conventional imaging techniques fail to localise the tumor. Complete removal of an insulinoma can be reliably predicted using a quick insulin assay. This paper was presented at the 2nd Biennial Meeting of the European Society of Endocrine Surgeons (ESES), May 18–20, 2006, Krakow, Poland.     

Intravitreal injection of 0.3 ml of SF6 gas for persistent subfoveal fluid after scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Purpose  To determine the efficacy of intravitreal injection of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas for reducing persistent subfoveal fluid after scleral buckling surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Methods  We injected 0.3 ml of SF6 gas into the vitreous cavity of two eyes of two patients with persistent macular retinal detachment 3 and 5 months after successful scleral buckling. Optical coherence tomography was performed before and after surgery. Results  Subfoveal fluid was displaced peripheral to the fovea immediately after gas injection and the fluid was absorbed gradually in both eyes. Conclusions  Persistent subfoveal fluid after scleral buckling may be treated with intravitreal SF6 gas injection. The authors have no proprietary interest in any aspect of this report     

Lateral unicompartimental knee arthroplasty: indications,technique and short-medium term results

Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a valid alternative treatment in the event of arthritis confined to the lateral compartment. This paper examines its indications, technique and short to medium-term results. A total of 159 Miller–Galante cemented UKA prostheses (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) were implanted consecutively (131 medial and 28 lateral) by the same surgeon. This study investigates 28 lateral UKAs in 27 patients. Twenty-five implants in 24 patients (including a subject operated bilaterally) were followed up for 12–60 months. Three patients were discarded on account of to short a follow-up period. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score was used to compare the pre- and post-operative results of the lateral UKA patients. The HSS score improved from a pre-op mean of 59.92 (range 48–68) to 88.04 (range 71–95) at the last follow-up. There was a positive increase in the pain, function and ROM components of the score. The lateral UKA prosthesis can be regarded as a sound alternative to total knee replacement. Correct patient selection on the basis of optimum surgical indications, however, is essential. No benefits of funds were received in support of the study.     

蟾酥注射液对小鼠S180和人结肠癌HT-29裸鼠移植性肿瘤的影响

目的研究蟾酥注射液对小鼠移植性肿瘤 S180和人结肠癌 HT-29裸鼠移植性肿瘤的抑制作用.方法分别用小鼠 S180和人结肠癌 HT-29裸鼠两种荷瘤小鼠模型,观察药物对上述肿瘤的抑瘤作用,并镜下观察后者细胞凋亡情况.结果与荷瘤阴性对照组比较,蟾酥注射液各剂量组对小鼠 S180抑瘤率( IR)为 19.1%～38.2%(P<0.05),呈量效关系;而对人结肠癌 HT-29裸鼠移植性肿瘤的 IR为 9.5%～15.8%(P>0.05),也呈量效关系,但差异均未见统计学意义;环磷酰胺则能显著抑制小鼠 S180和 HT-29细胞裸鼠移植性肿瘤的生长( IR分别为70.7%和 67.1%, P<0.01),镜检可见其有显著促进肿瘤细胞凋亡作用;未发现实验药物出现明显的毒副作用.结论该实验所用的蟾酥注射液,对小鼠 S180有抑制作用,而对人结肠癌 HT-29裸鼠移植性肿瘤,则作用不明显,表明不同类型的肿瘤对其敏感性不同.     

各种肝病的肝纤维化标志改变的探讨

目的 :探讨各种肝病患者血清肝纤维化标志的改变 ,甘草酸二胺注射液对肝脏炎症、纤维化指标的作用。方法 :用放免法检测透明质酸 (HA)、层粘蛋白 (LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原多肽 (PCⅢ )。结果 :急性肝炎的三种肝纤指标均升高 (P <0 0 5 )。急黄肝高于急无黄肝 (P <0 0 5 )。慢性肝炎 1 1 2例 ,三项肝纤指标显著高于正常对照 (P <0 0 5 )。慢肝重度显著高于慢肝轻度 (P<0 0 0 1 )。肝硬化的三项肝纤指标又显著高于慢肝 (P <0 0 0 1 ) ,其它肝病的肝纤指标也升高。 2 5例慢肝用甘草酸二胺注射液治疗 2月 ,ALT、AST、GGT显著降低 (P <0 0 1 )。三项肝纤指标中HA降低较显著 (P =0 0 5 ) ,LN和PCⅢ虽有降低 ,但差异不明显 (P =0 4 5 9,P =0 1 92 )。结论 :各种肝病的三项肝纤维化指标均升高 ,以慢肝重度 ,肝硬化升高明显。甘草酸二胺注射液治疗有抗炎及改善肝纤维化的作用